Nut-tapping machine.



0. A.l SMITH. NUT .TAPP-ING- MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED `A11G.24,'19o. l

I Patented. SGADLQQ.1908,.v

Witnesses:

nventox'.

' o. A. sMITH. r NUT TAPPING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED AUG.24,1906.

Patented sept. 29, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

y Wiilnesses ,UMTED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR A. SMITH, OF CLVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO' EDWIN G. HENN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

NUT-TAPPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

Application iled August 24, 190e. Se/ral No. 331,825.

To all whom 'it'mafy concern:

Be it known that-I, OSCAR A. SMITH, al ,citizen ot' the United States, resldlng 1n tapping machines.

The object of the invention isto provide a machine whereby a series of nuts orl nutblanks or other members are successively brought to 'a certain part of a magazine `or other member; and while rigidly held in such position .are threaded by means of a tapping tool; in which machine the successive nut-blanks are tapped from opposite sides. Thatis, the tap-member enters the bore of one uut from the right hand side.

whileV thc sueceedingnut hasthe tap enter its bore from the left hand side.

. ln another applicationliled by Ine 0n the 16th day of August, 1906, Serial No. 330,894,

is shown and claimed the form of tap-meinber used in the present invention, which is, in the nature of a double-end reversible ta that is, the tap can "be passed Lentire yltlnough the bore of the nut-.blank to cut a thread t therein,` and then can" be passed through another nut in the opposite spiral direction, and operated entirely through the second member; the thread cut in `both the nut-blanks being identical. i

It is an object of the present invention toA provide an automatic machine for operating this reversible tap, whereby itis passed into and through a nutblank from one end, and' upon another nut-blank being placed 1nv the same position, the tap 1s moved endwise 1n the opposite direction to threadv the second blank. `And so on, each back" and forth movement of the tap causing the V.same thread to be cnt in the slwcessive blanks.

In the accompanyingiirawings, representing one en'ibodiinent of my invention, Figure l shows a front elevation; Fig. 2 is 'an-end elevation; 'Fig'. 3 is a `detail view in .elevavtion and section, showing one of the socketspmdles or operating the tap; .Flgx t 1s an'v end view of the latter spindle; Figs. 5, G and 7 show the tap with its operating spindles and amagazine for the nut-blanks, lthe` tap and spindles being in successivepositions;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through tn e inagvazine, showing-its mechanism for feeding the nut-blankssuccessively; and Fig. 9 is a view of the tap.

The special form of tap that the machine is designed". to operate has the cutter portion ,a located at the intermediate part of a shank b, the teeth bein fully formed at the middlc portion fof tie cutter, but reduced th-w wards each end of the shank, instead of toward one end as in the usual construction. Theseteeth at one end are given the usual backward rake or inclination, but the rake at 'one end portion is in the opposite direction circumferentially from those at the other end. vThis is Vfor the reason that when one end of the tapis inserted, the cutting teeth adjacent'that end will have the usual negaf tive rake to commence cutting the threads in.

the nut. The tap havmg passed entirely through the nut, 1s operated endwise in the opposite direction for. the next blank. But, obviously', the tap must now be rotated in the opposite direction, since the thread out will now be the same as in the previous blank.. Therefore, :the .direction of rotation being reversed, the direction of the rake or inclination of the cutting teeth adjacent this end must be reversed.

Thesmachine comprises essentially two op' erating spindles that engage the opposite ends of the tap-shank respectively, and a magazine or holder, denoted generally by M, y

whereby the nutblanks can be successively fed to a certain position, and rigidly held in suclLpostion while being engaged by the tap. The tap is engaged by one spindle and passedinto the nut, by rotating the spindle at the same time advancing it; in other words, giving it a spiral movement. Upon the tap passing partly through the nutblank, as indicated in 6, lts emerging 4end is engaged by the spindle member on the opposite side, which obviouslyv must rotate at the same speed. vThe threads partially cut in the nut-blank will of themselves advance the tap, moving it into the second spindle socket. Thereupon, the lirst spindle upon approachingthe nut', will cease its advance, while the other spindle must retreat while rotating; that is, must niove spil-ally away from the magazine. Upon the thread portion of the tap disengaging the nut, the

second spindle will 'continue the advance o f the tap, thereby `causing it to travel entirel' .through the nutb lank. At this. stagfthe" einer verdrietig Corr 2 tapped blank is ejected, and the succeeding blank fed to and locked in the Same position. The. second spindle now has its movement arrested and .reversed to travel in the opposite rotative and advaneing direction; that is, is moved in an opposite. Spiral direction. This will carry the end that has liust moved out of the laat'y blank. first into the next blank, and the opposite end of the eutter portion will tiret engage the nut-blank to start the thread in its bore. The continued rotary movement of the spindle, together with the advaneiire` motion Caused by the threads of the cutter and nut-blank, will carry the tap on through the second blank. Upon its entering;l end passii'ig through the nut-blank it is engaged by the first spindle, that will now be given a Spiral movement corresponding to that of the operating spire dle. Upon the tap passing further through the blank, the Second Spindle will be arrested in its adwnieingl mov ement, and the lirst .spindle will retreat, earryinjel the tap entirely through the second blank and tree thereof. Thereupon this nut-blank is ejected and the succeeding one placed in tapping position. The cycle of operations is no n' repeated as described, each sueceedingy Initblank being tapped trom opposite --:ide..:, but. obviously the a1ne` identieal thread is formed in each nut.

In the construction shown, on a suitable frame-work F are mounted spindles 2 and 3, one at each end ot, the machine, that are in a'lineinent. Thene epindleel are carried in one or more bearings t and 5 at eaeh end. the spindles being endwise movable in the bearings well as rotatable.. Suitable meansare provided whereby each spindle rotated throughout its range ot' fndwiae movement. In the form shown. each spindle carries'` a gear G meshingl with an elongated pinion 7, the l.joar G remaining in mesh therewith throughout its endwise movement. The two pinions i' are fast on a Shalt S, extendingfrom end to end ot'v the machine, and driven by a pulley t) last thereon. Idle pulleys 1.0 and .ll are loose on the shaft on Aol'ipoeite Sides ot the pulley t), to which reversing belts 12 and l' are shil'ted, whereby the motion of the xsha'lt S is reverend in the usual manner from two opponitely moving; belts.

Each of the spindles is provided with nieann` for engaging and dieennaging the tap to rotate it and at the same time advance the tap. As shown, each `Spindle in provided with a socket member 141, IShown separately inl"ig. il and Ll. This soeket member ia provided with a bore l5 tittinnY the .ahanit' ot' the tap, with reduced portions lt', on oppoeite side ol the socket, engagine"` tial portionsl on the tap-nhanlv, to prevent rotation ol' the tap in the toeliet. ly means o l the, mam Saft the two apindles. will be nnultaneously revolved and their motion reversed. The spiral motion ot' the spindles and Sock ets is, in the preeentl oonntruetion, effected. by means ot cam-straps. A Shaft 17 is rotatable on the frame, preferably a' its lower part, and driven by a pulley 18 fait, thereon, troni a belt it), runningr on any suitalle counter-shaft, not shown. On the shait 7, near one end of the machine, is secured a drumjQO, provided with eanratrapajl and Q2. A lever 23 is pivoted on the machine bed and han a :forked end 2l eiigagint;` opposite sides of a disk 25 on the apindl i L. The lower end ot' the lever is engaged by the cam-straps Q1 and 22. TheSe strapey are no designed and located on the drum that the spindle will tiret be advanced in one direction, then allowedto rotate in such position without advancing, and then moved back in itel former position. Near the other end of the shaft li is a Similar drum 2U, provided with strap-cams 27 and 2H, that alternately engage the lower end ol a lever 2f) pivoted on the mat-lune bed. This, lever has a t'orkcd end 30 engaging a disk 31 on the spindle 3. By this means the `spindle Il is alternately moved in opposite directions, similar to the operation olf the spindle 2.

Means are provided whereby the revolu tion ol the driving shaft. S, and hence that ot' the two spindles, is reveraed at the proper time when the tap has pana-ed entirely through one blanlv' and another is presented l'or tapping. ',l`hiry means is in'el'erably eontrolled by the shat't 1T and timed relative to the position ot' the e-.inmtrapn on the eontrolliirtr drums. ln the eonatruetion illus trated, a drinn lZ is i'ast on one end of the Shaft l?. near the nervt ot' pulleys operatintr the shaft 'l`he drum in provided with a cani groove ll in itaV periphery, whose walls engage one end ol' a belt-shifter lever ill'. ly this means.. when the, eameatraps have :shifted the i pindle l to one end, the belty"hitter is operated to ahii't the drivin;r belt to the idle. pulley and bring the other belt on to tlnx drivin;A pulley. thereby reversingr the Spindles.

'l`he nut-blankel in the eonstruetion disA eloned. are l'ed through a magra/.ine or lube lt). who e bore is meh that the nuts can slide, down through the magazine. but nre prevented ''rom rotating therein or having` any movement exi-epi to advanee. 'l`he nuts are retained infoperative pofition by means; ot a lever -ll pivoted at l: on the lnzujazine. and having' a bent arm l arranged to engage the two lower rodea` ol' the nut-blank; thereby retainintr the blank in position for threading. rllu other end ll ol' the lever` 'upon being; roeked to cause the end li to move out. oi the tube and l'ree the nut` will engage the. lower side ot' the smreeding nut and prevent its :nlvaneement until the lirst nut han.' been removed. Should thinl tapped nut not fall-by gavity,-tlie arni infmov`` ing into position te engage the underside of` a succeeding nut blank will strike the upper ofthe next nut-blank' as soon as the arm 44 or rea-r sideof the tapped'or finished nut and start its downward movement. Upon the re-A turn movement of the lever, the arm 43 is' in position to arrest the downward movement releases the blank, permitting it to advance'. Suitable means are provided for rocking the arm 41. It is shown as havinga slotted'arm 45 that is engaged by a slide 46 movable ina p block 47. The slide 46, is controlled by a cam 48 that is perated from any convenient part of the machine. 'The cam .engages a roller 49 on tl lower end oitlie slide.

In he operation of the machineV the -tap engaged by one of the spindles, as spindle 3,

" is moved to the right While-rotating, toengage the positioned nut-blank. As the tap advances through the saine, the second spindle 2 is moved in. the opposite direction 'to receive the end ofthe tapas itzpasses through the blank. The spin es beingconstantly rotated in th same direction and at the samespeed, the will'have the tap-engai-ging portions always in the* samejrelative v'second spindle will Ubegi.

i position. The emerging end of 'thetap Will therefore enter the socketgof the lsecond 80 spindle and Aproperly 'engage its flattened portions therein. At. .thisp.eriodthe advance.

of the first spindle will be'. ,frest/ed,wh`ile the "ttf retreat. The

' threads started in the nut-blank will have the Yeffect of continuing i the edvvise movement of the tap and prevent t-h/e tap Lmoving endwisein the second spindle'socket. The retreat of the second 'spindlel will .continue and the tap will be passedjentirelyfthrough the nut, as shown in As soon as the tap is disengaged .from the first spindle, this spindle is caused' to retreat to its former position. The tapped blank Ais now ejected and a succeeding onelocked in the same' position. The straps onl the operating drum'ncW cause the second spindle to advance, and the end'of the,tap.that just' assed out of the last blank, is moved into t e now positioned' blank. But the' lbeltshilter has operated to reverse the drivin shaft 8,1and hence the rotation of the spindles, and the tap now moves .in the opposite'direction into the nutblank. A t this stage the yfirst spindle isk again caused to approach the magazine, and

as soon as the tap begins to pass through the boreof.the nut-blank its end isengaged y by the socket ofthe first spindle. .The latter indie now beginsto retreat,-and as soon as t e second spindle reaches the magazine, its forward movement is arrested, and thoftap carried on entirely free ofthe nut and niagazine, as indicated in Fig. 5'. -It is not neces'- sary, so far as the 'tap is concerned, that the' Vspindle on the opposite side from the tap be caused to retreat and then approach the magazine again, but kthis folloivs as a necessary consequence, as'at eacli rotation of the operating shaft, 17 the spindles must be given a complete`ieciproeation.

, I Yclaim vas, my invention:

1." In con'ibinationiwith a double ended tool effective to cut the same from either end, of a pair of opposed tool holding means for engaging the tool at. .its opposite ends altei'-, nately and at each -V side ,of a blank, and

means for rotating and advancing each of said tool-holding means thereby to cut suc- `cessive blanks-first from one side and then and means for alternately advancing said means andl thereby theta-p in opposite directions and forrotating it during suoli ad- 3. In a nuttapping machine, the combination With-'a double end reversible tap, of a pair ofalining spindles havingtap-engaging so rthat said 4tap Will bereleased and one spindle Withdrawn from said tap at a pre determined period, means. for rotating the spindles in the several ositi'ons of endwise .movement,'and means or reversing the rotation of the spindles.

portions at their opposing ends organizedto engage and rotate the tap, means for causing yendwise movement ofthe spindles and timed 4. 'In a nut-tapping machine, the combination with a double end reversibh tap, of a pair of aliniiig spindles provided with socket portions on their opposing ends for engage- ,ment `with the tap ends to rotate the saine,

the spindles heilig supported foie-rotation and ralso' for nendwisc movement, a shaft, 1

means for rotating the-spindles in their several positions of endwise movement from the shaft, means for driving the shaft alternately in opposite directions, means for causing.

end wise -movement of the spindles during rotation/and tinied so that said tap Will be released and one'.spindle withdrawn from said .tap at a predetermined period.

A 5. In a nut-.tappinginaehine, the coii'ibination with a double end reversible tap, ofV a pair ofspindles rotatably supported in alliieineiit, the spindles being provided with socket portions on their opposing ends foi-ined to lit the tap'eiids to rotate. the saine, a driving shaft adjacentthe spindles and provided v-vvitli elongated pinions at each end, a gear oneach of the spindles engaging one of said pinions, whereby thesspindles are rotated 1n their several positions of endvvisev adiusltment, a second shaft provided With a `pair of drums carryingcam-straps, each of ldrivingshaft.

the spindles being provided with a disk portion, levers pii'oted on the maehine and liaring it'orked portions engaging said disks respectively, eaeh lever being engaged by said eaux-straps 0n one drum. wherebyY the levers are oseillated to shitt the spindles endwise, said ea`m straps heilig so positioned that the tap will he released and one spindle withdrawn from said tap at a predetermined period, and means operated from the, seeond shaft for reversing the movement v of the 6. In a nut-tapping maehine` the combination with a double end reversible tap, of a pair of spindles rotatably supported in alinen nient, the spindles being provided with soeket. portions on their opposing ends formed to tit the tap ends to rotate the same. a driving shaft adjaeent the spindles and provided with elongated pinions at eaeh end, a gear on each of the spindles engaging one o'l said pinions, whereby the spindles are rotated in their several positions otl endwifse adjust-ment. a second .shat't provided with a pair of drums carrying cam-st raps. each ot' the spindles being provided with a disk portion, levers pivoted on the maehine and haring forked portions engaging said disks re- Spectively, eaeh lever being engaged h v .said eam straps on one drunn whereby the levers are oseillated to shit't the spindles endwise, Said ealn straps being soposittoned that the tap will he released and one spindle withdrawn from said tap at a predeteriuined period. meansoperated vfrom the seeond shatt 't'or reversing the mo\ement ot' the driving shaftz a magazine for nut-blanks arranged between the spindles for holding the nntblanksI in the path ol tno\'enunt ol' the tap. and means operated by the maehine tor leeding the nuts sneeessirel'v to position otl en-It gagement with thetap and tor vliet-ting the 5 blanks when tapped.

i. ln eomhination with a single double ended tap elltt'tire to eut. l'rom either end` olI dnplieate tap holding means. meehanisln l'or rotating and adraneing' .said tap holding means. alternatel)v to engage .said double ended tap and pass it throngh blanks` thereby to thread sneeessire blanks. lirst l'rom one side and then l'roln the other. and nteaus l'or lfeeding blanks alternatel \',to the ends ol' the tap. v

H. ln the tnaehine ol' the rlass speeitied. the eomhination ol a pair ol' opposed tool holding means. meehanism l'orirotating and adraneing .said tool holding means alternately to engage b r itsl opposite endsI a dou ble. ended tool ell'eetive to eut l'rom either end thereh'tr to pass sueh a tool through l l t i l l blanksto ent .sneeessire blanks lirst l'rom t one .side and then l'rom the other. .said meehl anism ineluding means l'or rotating both ol' .said tool holding means togethe' and at the same speed daring the eutting ol' one blank in one direction and during the cutting of a sueeessire blank in the opposite direction.

ln a machine 'of the elass described. the eomhination with a double ended tool, of a. pair ot' duplicate tool holding means, eaeh eoastrneted to engage the opposite ends ofi a double ended tool eti'eetire to eut 'from either end. and means t'or operating said duplicate tool holding means thereby to pass a tool l'rom one to the other otl .said tool holding means and eompletely through blanks from one side o'l' one and the opposite side of a sueeessive blank and ineluding means for rotating both ot said duplieate tool holding means together and aty the same speed in one diret-tion during the threading of one blank and in the opposite direction during the threading ot a succeeding blank.

1t). lhe eomhination of work holding means. tool holding means eomprisiner a. pair of opposed tool holders constructed t0 engage by its opposite ends a double-ended tool etl'eetire to eut in the same manner trom either end. meehanism for aetnating` said tool holding means so that both ends otE the tool will be grasped during a part of eaeh eutting operation while such ends will also he alternateliy released to permit the passage of the blanks sueeessively from 0pposite ends oll the tool aml so that the tool will he passed in oneV diret-tion atI one time eoinplet'elv through a blank to eut.- the same and then passed bark 'ard eompletely through a .sueeeeding blank to also ent the same in the same manner as the preeeding blank. and means lor rotating one ot' said means in opposite directions at ditterent times. -f

ll. rl`he eombination of work holding means. ol doable-ended tap elfeetire to eut tht` .same kind of thread from either end` a pair ot opposed tap holding means eaeh eon- .struetetl to alternately engage the` opposite ends ot' said tap` meehanism for rotating one ol'V .said means in one direetion at. one time and i`n tht` opposite diret-tion at another time therehy to pass .said tap eom pletel't' through the means to be eut from one side ol' one and the opposite .side of a sueeeeding means. to eut during; eaeh sueh passage the same kind ot' thread. and means tor aetnating .said tool holding means so that they will grasp both ends of the tap during a part ol eaeh eutting operation and will also alternately release the ends thereot t'or the passage ot .sueeessire blanks alternately l'rontthe opposite ends'of .sneh tap.

11?. ln a nut tapping maehine. the romhination with a double ended tap, of means for tapping lnlt blankswith the same kind of thread alternatelv l'rom eaeli side and eontprising a pair ol':1pindles. means timed toet'- l'eet the release ol' the tap from its .spindle when the threading operation is linislud 0n a blank and permit the threaded nuts to pass from. the 'tap first from one'vsideand then from the opposite sidey thereof in succession, means for operatingsaid-` spindles to rotate them together and at the same speed in the same direction during the threading of one Y blankand in ltheopposite direction during' the threading of a" succeeding blank, and means for feeding blanks to the ends of said tapv alternately. 13. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of means for successively feeding blanks into position to be worked and comprising means effective to prevent the advancement of one blank until the Apreceding nished blank has been removed, said means also having a part thereof eli'ective to strike the top of the finished blank and assist' intlie removal of such blank. y

14. In a machine ofthe class described, the combination of means for successively feeding blanks into position to be worked and comprising a chute and a tivo-part means located adj aceiit thereto, one part in position to engage the underside of a blank and hold it in position for cutting and the other part to enga.Y e the underside ofa succeeding blank and old it in position against advancement until the first blank is released7 said last part also constructed to strike the `top of the finished blank and assist in removing it.

15. In a machine of the class described, the I combination of means for successi-velyfeed- `ing blanks into position to be Worked and in# cluding a guideivay and means eHective for preventing the advancement of one blank until the preceding finished blank has been removed and also effective to assist in the removall of such finished blank, and comprising a rocking lever located adjacent to said chiite and one end constructed to engage and lock a blank in position to be worked and the other end to engage a succeeding blank on the rocking 'of said lever and prevent the movement thereof until the removal of the iiislied. blank and to also engage said {inished blank and assist in the removal tlierei'if.

, 16. In a machine of tlie class` described, thc .combination of means for automatically feedinv successive blanks into position to be worked and including ii guidewa-y and means effectivev to prevent the advancement of one blank until the preceding finished blank is removed and lalso effective lo assisi in the 'rev moval of suoli finished blank, and comprising a rocking lever pivoted adjacent to said 

